Best Antivirus for Android
Our number one pick, TotalAV, offers real-time protection and a suite of other security tools to keep your Android device safe.
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Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024
- Protects your Android device from malicious websites
- Android version includes real-time protection
- Allows you to lock device apps
- High-powered VPN
- Basic Identity theft protections included
- Affordable pricing package
- Checks all Android apps before they are installed
- Available camera and microphone protections for Android devices
- Protect up to five devices with one subscription
70 percent of mobile devices around the world run on Android.1 That’s an awfully juicy target for cybercriminals. It’s no wonder that there’s a new headline every week about malware targeting Android devices.
That’s why reliable antivirus software is a must-have for Android users — the operative word there being “reliable.” There are tons of antivirus programs out there, but only a handful are worth their salt.
Don’t worry, though. We took a deep dive and tested a number of these apps on our own personal smartphone to make sure they actually performed as advertised. Through our testing, we’ve developed this list of the seven best antivirus programs for Android.
Our Testing Statistics
| Testing length | 6 months |
|---|---|
| Minimum app rating | 3 stars |
| Maximum annual cost | $149 |
| Shortest refund period | 30 days |
According to the latest reports, about 480,000 Android malware samples are being added to virus databases per month.2 That’s certainly a cause for concern, but also a strong motivator to get antivirus for our Android devices sooner rather than later.
But which one will work best for you? Keep reading to find out!
The Best Android Antivirus Protection at a Glance
| System |
TotalAV Antivirus
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Surfshark Antivirus
|
Trend Micro Antivirus
|
Avast Antivirus
|
AVG Antivirus
|
ESET Antivirus
|
Kaspersky Antivirus
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
| Ratings | 9.7/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 |
| Android App Name | TotalAV Antivirus & VPN | Surfshark | Mobile Security & Antivirus | Avast Antivirus — Scan & Remove Virus, Cleaner | AVG Antivirus Free — Android Virus Cleaner | ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus | Kaspersky: VPN & Antivirus |
| Google Play User Ratings (as of the time of writing) | 4.4 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.7 stars |
| Annual Price Range | $99.00 - $149.00 | $49.08 | $39.95 - $149.95 | $50.28 - $69.48 | $0.00 - $77.88 | $39.99 - $79.99 | $0 - $49.99 |
| Maximum Number of Devices | Up to six | Unlimited | Up to 10 | Up to 10 | Up to 10 | Up to five | Up to 10 |
| Free Trial/Version | Free version | Free trial of VPN | Seven days of free trial | Free version | Free version | 30 days of free trial | Free version |
| Refund Policy | 30 days (annual subscriptions) | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days (for licenses purchased from Avast's website only) | 30 days (Business Editions only) | 60 days | 30 days |
| On-demand Scans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time Scanning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Premium version only |
| Firewall | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Our Virus Detection Score | 66.6% | N/A | 66.6% | 60% | 60% | 80% | 100% |
| A.V Lab's Detection of Recent Android Malware | 99.90% | N/A | 100% | 98.60% | 99.80% | 99.80% | 99.90% |
| Read Review | TotalAV Antivirus Review | Surfshark Antivirus Review | Trend Micro Antivirus Review | Avast Antivirus Review | AVG Antivirus Review | ESET Antivirus Review | Kaspersky Antivirus Review |
Summary of the Best Antivirus Apps for Android
- TotalAV Antivirus - Best Bonus Features
- Surfshark Antivirus - Best with VPN
- Trend Micro Antivirus - Most Affordable
- Avast Antivirus - Best Free Antivirus
- AVG Antivirus - The Best Android Antivirus for Privacy
- ESET Antivirus - The Best Android Antivirus for Students
- Kaspersky Antivirus - Best for User-Friendly App
Breakdown of the Best Android Compatible Antivirus Apps
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1. TotalAV Antivirus - Best Bonus Features
View Packages Links to TotalAV AntivirusProduct Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall No On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes
Pros
- Includes a VPN, password manager, and performance booster
- Free version available
- Top-notch customer support
- Includes a VPN
Cons
- No firewall
- Paid plans are very expensive
- Full scans can sometimes take up to an hour to complete
TotalAV real-time protection at work Cloud Scanning
The thing we like best about TotalAV is that the company provides us with so many bonus features beyond the antivirus itself. TotalAV doesn’t just scan our devices but also our cloud storage. It doesn’t just eliminate malware, it cleans up junk files to help our devices run faster. It provides data breach protection and includes both a password manager and a VPN. Yes, according to AVTest, TotalAV is 99.9 percent effective against malware. TotalAV protects us from so much more than malware, though.
TotalAV Antivirus Pro costs $99 per year. Pricey, but it could be worth it when you consider everything you’re getting like an included VPN.
>> Added Security: Best Password Managers for Android Devices
WebShield
On-demand scans are great for checking to see if your device is already infected with malware. Real-time scans can make sure you don’t download any malware. TotalAV’s WebShield goes even further, helping you avoid sites where malware tends to lurk. WebShield keeps up with which websites out there are suspicious, and by default, it gives you a warning any time you’re trying to connect with one of them. For even more protection, you can even set it to screen these sites out entirely.
VPN
Antivirus software works even better when paired with a VPN, or Virtual Private Network. A VPN routes your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel and hides your actual address behind an anonymous address, ensuring no one can hack your connection. Antivirus protects you from downloading potentially hazardous malware yourself. Put them together, and you’re golden. And remember, TotalAV gives you both tools for the price of one.
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2. Surfshark Antivirus - Best with VPN
View Plans Links to Surfshark AntivirusProduct Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall No On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes
What We Like
- Protection for unlimited devices
- Affordable pricing
- Robust VPN service
- Identity theft protections
- Webcam protection
What We Don’t Like
- IP Logging
- Average malware-blocking abilities
- Some features may not work on Android
VPN Functionality and More
Surfshark connected to New York Folks might think that Surfshark is just a VPN. While they might have been right a few years ago, now that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In recent years Surfshark has broadened its horizons, offering customers not only one of the most powerful VPNs available today but some of the most comprehensive digital protections we’ve seen. Aside from the VPN, Surfshark now offers:
- Alternate ID Generator
- Real-Time Email Breach Alerts
- Real-Time Credit Card and ID Breach Alerts
- Personal Data Security Reports
- Private Search Engine
- Real-Time Antivirus Scans
- Webcam Protection
- Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection
>> Learn More: What is a VPN app and what does it do?
Now that’s quite a lot of features for one service, but Surfshark prices still remain affordable. Surfshark One costs a little over $4 per month when you sign up for a year, and Surfshark One+, which adds data removal from business and perusal sites to the list above, costs $6.50 per month across the same term.
Let’s look at some of their more advanced features.
Identity Theft Protection
Surfshark is one of the few providers on this list that can actually help protect customers from identity theft. That’s some serious security, but how do they do it? Essentially, Sufshark scans sites that are known to traffic in people’s personally identifying information and will notify you when items like your credit card information or social security numbers show up. While there isn’t a whole lot you can do to prevent this from happening — aside from practicing good digital hygiene — you can react to it when it occurs in real-time thanks to Surfshark.
Malware Protection
Should you really trust your Android device to a company whose primary concern wasn’t antivirus software just a year ago? We’d argue that it’s at least worth checking out. Surfshark scans your device in real-time whenever you download anything or visit a new website on your phone. This two-pronged approach will help keep you safer online, and if you want to be really sure, you can always perform a deep scan. The last time we did this on our PC, it took about two hours, but knowing that the device was free and clear helped us gain some peace of mind.
Surfshark Antivirus Scan Options FYI: Something to keep in mind is that not every bell and whistle will work on your Android device. For example, some of the advanced functionality and protocols the Surfshark VPN can use won’t be available on your phone.
We also really appreciate that Surfshark checks your system against a database of known malware that automatically updates every three hours. The cyber threat landscape is constantly evolving, so you want to select an antivirus provider that is staying on top of things like Surfshark.
If you’re looking for some comprehensive protections packed with a powerful VPN for your phone, Surfshark has our recommendation. If this isn’t really your cup of tea, though, keep reading for a few more options.
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3. Trend Micro Antivirus - Most Affordable
View Packages Links to Trend Micro AntivirusProduct Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes
Pros
- 100 percent detection of recent Android malware
- 4.7 stars Google Play Store rating
- Checked for malicious apps before allowing installation
- Affordable subscription plans
Cons
- Features like email and payment protection were turned off by default
- No firewall
- Multi-device subscriptions need to be purchased from the website (not in-app)
- Free trial for the Android app lasts only seven days
Trend Micro – Facebook Privacy Concerns Strong Malware Protection
Trend Micro checked off all the right boxes when it came to malware detection. First, it has both on-demand and on-access scans. On-demand scans were the ones we initiated by tapping the in-app scan button, while on-access scans were autonomous scans performed by the app whenever it was running. FYI, the app ran continuously in the background, so our malware protection was 24/7. Second, it scored an above-average 66.6 percent in our virus detection test, which means that it bested most of the antivirus apps we tested. And last but not least, it was one of the few apps that detected all new Android malware based on tests performed by an independent antivirus testing laboratory, A.V Labs.
Free Trial and Rates
Trend Micro was free for just seven days, but once the trial period ended, we had to shell out $39.95 or about $3 per month for a one-year subscription. On top of that, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you find that Trend Micro is not your cup of tea (which is unlikely if you ask us), you can get your entire money back, making it a risk-free purchase. Trend Micro’s pricing also includes monthly plans if you want a shorter commitment, or two-year subscriptions if you want bigger savings.
Editor’s note: Trend Micro is almost always on sale and right now is no exception. Their Antivirus+ Security subscription is $19.95 per month, Internet Security is $39.95, Maximum Security is $45.95, and the Premium Security Suite is now $54.95.
Pre-Installation Scans
They say that prevention is better than cure, so in addition to on-access scans, Trend Micro actively scanned newly downloaded apps for malicious content. It also notified us of apps containing such content and made sure that our phones didn’t push through with the installation. Trend Micro’s proactive approach to malware protection makes it a handy companion for the likes of us who download and test lots of different apps.
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4. Avast Antivirus - The Best Free Antivirus for Android
View Plans Links to Avast AntivirusProduct Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes 
Pros
- 98.60 percent detection of recent Android malware
- 4.7 stars Google Play Store rating
- Anti-theft protection
- Scanned public Wi-Fi networks for potential hackers
Cons
- Requires additional permissions to use some features like anti-theft protection
- Additional app is needed to access junk file cleaner
- Not-so-subtle advertising of other Avast products
- Setting up a custom scan required more taps than we hoped
Avast Antivirus – Scan Finished Take Control of Your Data
Believe it or not, most antivirus apps including Avast collect a ton of data about their users for feature improvements and threat analysis. However, hidden deep within Avast’s settings, there’s actually an option that allows users to manage how their usage data is collected and used. That’s not a common sight in the world of antivirus apps. So as individuals who care deeply about people’s privacy, Avast has our seal of approval.
Avast has a great free version of their software, but its functionality is a little limited. If you decide to use their premium service, it regularly costs $8.33 per month — or $99.99 per year — but right now it’s on sale for $3.75 per month, or $44.99 per year.
FYI: Avast’s personal privacy settings lets users choose whether or not to share threat and app usage data with Avast. It also lets users turn off sharing of app usage data with Avast’s third parties.
Hackers Beware
Avast also protected us from hoodie-wearing hackers trying to steal our information through unprotected Wi-Fi networks in cafes and airports. Okay, that sounded like something out of a movie, but the possibility of hacking is very real. Avast’s Wi-Fi security scanner checked Wi-Fi networks for vulnerabilities, such as those that would allow people nearby to hack our Android phone. And if a free Wi-Fi network is vulnerable, no thanks! We’d rather use precious mobile data to stay connected. On the other hand, whenever we connected to a safe Wi-Fi network, we still used Avast’s built-in VPN to mask our IP address. In terms of performance, it was similar to the Avast SecureLine VPN, so if you want to know how our experience was, check out our Avast SecureLine VPN review.
Protection in the Background
Avast’s ability to scan for malware wasn’t limited to user-initiated scans. It also protected our device in the background, a.k.a. real-time scanning. Even if we rarely opened the app, we felt safe seeing this reassuring message in our Android’s notification tray: “Avast is running. We’re always looking out for you.”
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5. AVG Antivirus - The Best Android Antivirus for Privacy
View Plans Links to AVG Antivirus
Pros
- 99.80 percent detection of recent Android malware
- 4.7 stars Google Play Store rating
- Real-time malware protection running in the background
- Free RAM booster and junk files cleaner
Cons
- Ads in the free version
- Cluttered user interface
- Some features like VPN and file cleaner required separate apps
- Frequent attempts to convince us to upgrade
AVG Antivirus – First Scan Invitation A Not-So-Tall Paywall
Most antivirus apps hide their best features behind a paywall, but not AVG. We’ve been able to access most of the app’s features without spending a single cent. It had on-demand and real-time scans, customizable scan parameters, scheduled scans, and even RAM booster and file cleaner. The free version, however, was powered by ads, so expect to see pop-ups every now and then. Of course, we wanted the full experience, so we paid for the Ultimate plan, which got rid of the ads and unlocked two new features: a VPN and PIN protection for apps. The VPN was similar to the one we tested in our AVG VPN review, so it’s a good deal if you’re looking for antivirus and VPN for your Android device. We have more information in our guide to AVG’s pricing, but the long and short of it is that their two premium tiers will cost you $4.99 per month or $59.88 per year.
Anti-Theft Protection
AVG didn’t only protect our smartphones from digital threats, but also from physical threats that might endanger our privacy. We’re talking about device theft. If our phone gets stolen or lost, the anti-theft feature would allow us to access it from our computer. From there, we could track the device, sound an alarm, display a message on the lock screen, wipe our phones’ memory, and more. It could also take a picture or record audio remotely, but these features are reserved for those with paid plans.
Permissions Analyzer
App Insights was another feature we really liked, particularly its ability to analyze and categorize our apps based on how much access they have to our phones. The categories were self-explanatory— high permission, average permission, and low permission— but that alone provided us with useful insights on how we can improve our phone’s privacy. For instance, it categorized the Facebook app on our Android as a high permission app. By checking the app’s info, we saw that we mindlessly allowed it to track our locations. That’s a big no-no for us, so thanks to AVG, we’re now one step farther from being tracked.
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6. ESET Antivirus - The Best Android Antivirus for Students
View Packages Links to ESET AntivirusProduct Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes 
Pros
- 99.80 percent detection of recent Android malware
- 4.7 stars Google Play Store rating
- Student discounts of up to 50 percent
- Security audit of device and app settings
Cons
- No free version, just free trials
- Expensive multi-device plans
- Complicated pricing and license packages
- Occasionally buggy app updates
ESET Dashboard Android and ESET, Perfect Combo for Students
About a third of Android users belong to the 16 to 24 age group3, which means a ton of students and fresh grads. Now, if you belong to the former category and have an existing .edu email address, ESET has some enticing student discount deals for you. You can check ESET’s pricing page for more information, but from what we’ve seen, you can get up to 50 percent off on antivirus subscriptions. Too bad we didn’t keep our .edu email addresses!
If you have to pay full price, though, that’s not too big of a deal. ESET’s standard protection tier costs $44.99 per year, and you’ll be able to protect three devices.
Clean User Interface
We’ve tested dozens of Android antivirus apps, and ESET had one of the most well-designed user interfaces. Everything was easy to access. Right on the app’s home screen, there were shortcuts to antivirus, anti-theft, anti-phishing, web protection features, and more. Below the shortcuts was the activity log that showed us reports of recent threats it detected. And whenever we needed to tinker with the advanced settings, the easy-to-access menu on the top right side of the screen was our go-to.
30 Days Trial, 60 Days Refund Policy
ESET doesn’t have a free Android version, but the premium Android antivirus is free to try for 30 days. That should give you plenty of time to decide if it’s the right antivirus for you. However, if 30 days is not enough, you can go ahead and purchase a premium plan and test it for 60 more days. If you think ESET is not for you, you can cancel anytime within the first 60 days and get your money back. After the 60 days, though, sorry! No more backsies.
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7. Kaspersky Antivirus - Best for User-Friendly App
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall No On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes 
Pros
- 99.90 percent detection of recent Android malware
- 4.7 stars Google Play Store rating
- Affordable plans for up to five devices
- Feature-rich free version
Cons
- No real-time protection for free users
- Manual malware database updates
- Allegedly has ties to the Russian government
- Minimum of one year subscription, no monthly plans
Kaspersky Antivirus App Home Screen Affordable Protection for Multiple Devices
The typical American household has five consumer electronic devices.4 With Kaspersky, the cost of adding antivirus to that many devices is only $38.99 per year, or if we break it down, about $3.20 monthly. Considering the level of virus protection Kaspersky provides (it was one of the only antivirus apps that aced our virus detection test), that deal is hard to beat.
Free Version for the Budget-Conscious
Now, if you own multiple devices but they are all Android, we’ve got even better news for you: you can use Kaspersky for free. The free version for Android provides lots of great features, such as on-demand scans, anti-theft protection, and call filtering. You’d have to live without a few key features, though, most notably real-time protection and anti-phishing. If you’re okay with that, then Kaspersky’s free mobile version is a winner. If not, it’s worth looking into Kaspersky’s pricing to see if there’s a plan that better suits your needs.
>> An Additional Option: Lookout Identity Protection
Full, Quick, and Custom Scans
Most of the apps we tested allowed for scan scope customizations, but Kaspersky made this feature the easiest to use. When we tapped on the scan button, it immediately asked us whether we wanted to do a full, quick, or custom scan. With other antivirus apps, we would need to go through several pages before we could switch between full and quick scans, let alone set up a custom scan, so we appreciated the convenience.
We’ll Let You In On A Little Secret: Our Methodology
Testing Android antivirus apps is easy, right? You just download them, try them out, and see what works, correct? Well, our review process was a bit more complicated than that, so if you want to test antivirus apps yourself, we’ll let you in on our methodology.
Tests… Lots of ‘Em
We couldn’t call this a review without extensively testing each antivirus app, from the installation all the way to the user experience. We tested each app for at least six months and used both their free and paid-for versions when available. Of course, we followed the testing process that we outlined in our antivirus guide, which included the following.
Installation and Setup
All of the apps we tested came from the Google Play Store, which meant they all followed the same installation process. None of them required side-loading from a third-party website, fortunately. However, some antivirus apps required extra steps for the setup, like signing up for an account, granting system access, or choosing a subscription plan. These extra steps weren’t exactly a nuisance as they were necessary for some features to work, but we gave higher marks to the apps that required little to no user action during setup. We specifically liked the apps that jumped right into action and scanned for viruses the first time we opened them.
Piece of Advice: Never download .apk files a.k.a. Android installers from unverified websites, especially antivirus apps.
Scans
The next thing we tested was the apps’ ability to scan for viruses and malware, more specifically, how and where they looked for such threats. Most, if not all Android antivirus apps feature a ‘Scan’ button or something similar on their home screen, and tapping on that would initiate a (you guessed it!) scan of the device. That’s what we call an on-demand scan. There were also antiviruses that kept our smartphones protected by continuously running in the background and stopping threats as they happened. By definition, that’s called on-access scans, but most apps call it real-time scanning. We like having both on-demand and real-time scans in our arsenal of features, but unfortunately, that wasn’t always possible. Many free antivirus apps (and some paid apps) didn’t offer real-time scanning, so we made sure to highlight the ones that did.
We also paid attention to where each app searched for viruses and malware. There were antiviruses that scanned all files, folders, and apps by default, which is ideal for those who want to make sure their phones are completely virus-free. However, since full scans take time (about 30 minutes based on our experience), some apps are set to only do a quick scan by default with a separate option to do a full scan. Depending on what you’re looking for, both options are acceptable.
Virus Detection Test
If you’ve read one of our antivirus reviews, you might be familiar with our virus detection test (if you haven’t yet, take our Bitdefender antivirus review as a sampler). We took five different viruses, downloaded them, and scored each antivirus based on how many of the five they detected. We originally devised this test for desktop antivirus software, but when we recreated it with Android antivirus apps, we got mostly the same results. The highest score was five out of five, but the average score of the roughly 40 apps we tested was three out of five, or 60 percent virus detection.
AV-TEST Lab Results
We have strong confidence in our ability to test antivirus apps, but we also wanted to see how other antivirus experts rate each app. Specifically, we looked to AV-TEST’s independent lab results for the more technical tidbits. They have been testing Android antivirus apps for their ability to detect the most recent Android malware, such as those added to their database in the past four months prior to each test. All of our five top picks got a near-perfect, if not a perfect, score in AV-TEST’s most recent round of tests.
The Price Is Right! Or Is It?
The cost is a huge factor when it comes to choosing an antivirus app, so we assessed the price value of each antivirus software. Note that it’s not a contest of which is cheapest, but rather, which can provide more value and protection at an affordable price. We’d rather pay for an effective antivirus than go with a free antivirus that lacks necessary features. That’s not to say that all free antiviruses are not good enough, though. There were a number of free Android antivirus apps that passed our standards, and we made sure to include some of them in our top picks. If you want to learn more about free antivirus software, check out our review of the best free antiviruses.
Another factor was the number of devices they protected. Since antivirus is a must for Androids— and really all types of consumer electronic devices— we included options that could protect multiple devices within a single subscription. We found that in most cases, a standard antivirus subscription could protect between one and five devices, although there were some that provided protection to more than 10 devices.
The Fragile Thing Called ‘Privacy’
And last but not least, privacy. There were two privacy-related features we checked during our tests. First, what types of access did each antivirus app request? Second, what’s their privacy policy?
Access Granted, Access Denied
Antiviruses need access to files and folders to do their job, so it’s perfectly normal for an antivirus app to request access to your phone’s storage. However, some antivirus apps made requests we weren’t comfortable granting, at least without a reasonable explanation. For instance, some apps asked permission to access our camera, which was oddly suspicious because that’s not a place where a virus could hide. We later found out that it’s for a feature that would take snapshots in case our phones got stolen, but seeing the permission request certainly freaked us out a little.
Our advice is to check the antivirus app’s permissions by going to your phone’s apps settings. If you spot something suspicious, try denying the permission and see if it affects the app’s functionality.
Privacy 101: Be sure to check your antivirus app’s permissions in the Android settings. You can turn off permissions that seem suspicious or unnecessary as long as they don’t affect the antivirus apps’ features.
Privacy Policy: Worth A Read
We know how tedious it is to read privacy policies, but believe us, it’s the one step you should never skip. When dissecting the privacy policy of an antivirus company, we check for three things.
- What type of data do they collect?
- How will they use that data?
- With whom will they share it?
This may sound surprising, but most antivirus companies actually collect a lot of data from their customers, including, but not limited to:
- Personal information (such as contact details, name, email address, etc.)
- Payment information
- Browsing data (such as URLs, amount of data used, etc)
- Device information (such as MAC and IP addresses, IMEI numbers, and OS version)
- Technical and crash reports
- Location information
- Network data (such as Wi-Fi name)
- Usage statistics (such as the number of files scanned, duration of each scan, etc.)
We’re not 100 percent on board with these data collection practices. However, seeing that that’s the industry norm, we instead gave higher marks to those that allowed us to customize what types of data they collected. Most of the antivirus companies we checked were upfront about their data usage and sharing practices. Privacy is very important to us, so rest assured that our top picks passed our standards when it comes to data collection, usage, and sharing practices.
>> Related: The Internet and Data Privacy
FAQs
Questions, anyone? Here are our answers to the most frequently asked questions about Android antivirus apps.
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What is the best antivirus software for Android?
We tested out a lot of good Android antivirus apps, but the best ones were TotalAV, Kaspersky, Trend Micro, Avast, AVG, and ESET.
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Are Android antivirus apps expensive?
On the contrary, Android antivirus apps are affordable. There are even free antivirus apps that provide decent virus and malware protection.
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Can I download antivirus apps outside Google Play Store?
Some websites offer antivirus APK downloads, but for your safety, we recommend downloading apps straight from the Google Play Store only.
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Why do I need antivirus for my Android smartphone?
Hundreds of thousands of Android malware are being added to malware databases per month, making Android one of the most targeted operating systems by malware and viruses. Without an antivirus app, your smartphone is exposed to risks that could compromise your digital security, which can lead to spyware and ransomware attacks as well as identity theft.
Statista. (2024). Market share of mobile operating systems worldwide from 2009 to 2023, by quarter.
statista.com/statistics/272698/global-market-share-held-by-mobile-operating-systems-since-2009/Statista. (2020). Development of Android malware worldwide 2016-2020. statista.com/statistics/680705/global-android-malware-volume/
Statista. (2020). Smartphone OS by age group in 2019.
statista.com/statistics/1133193/smartphone-os-by-agePew Research Center. (2017). A third of Americans live in a household with three or more smartphones.
pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/05/25/a-third-of-americans-live-in-a-household-with-three-or-more-smartphones